Christmas "readings"

Every year during early December we began to drag out the decorations - in our case most are not store-bought and most "normal" people would classify them as "tacky" with a capital "T" but they are special to us because they bring back wonderful memories. Ornaments made from jar lids and felt, sandpaper and yarn, even one made from a (new)ash tray (no kidding, from a school project no less!). Each has its own story of which child made it, which house we were living in (we have moved 10 times in 28 years, although really only 6 different communities), and something funny or special or interesting about the Christmas when that ornament was made. Needless to say, it takes us a L -- O -- N -- G --- G ---- G time to decorate the tree! Then there are the homemade Nativity scenes, a "wreath" hanging made from my second son's handprints when he was 5, two angel paintings made by both the 19 year-old and the 5-year old at age 3 each, etc. These are the reasons I decorate. To reinforce those wonderful memories in my mind and to establish them in the childrens'.

We have other traditions, too. Like baking goodies and delivering them to the neighbors the week before Christmas. Now these may not make the cover of Martha Stewart magazine but they are made with love by us and as we pack them in containers we pray for the recipients, many of whom do not yet understand the true Hope of CHRISTmas.

Then there are (of course!!) Christmas books. Each day we (try to) read at least one story about giving, gifts, selflessness, hope. Some of our favorites are "The Giving Tree", "The Legend of the Christmas Tree", "The First Christmas", "The Legend of the Candy Cane", "The Three Trees", and several Jan Brett and Max Lucado books. We have some wonderful short stories that are about Christmas or giving and the youngest ones ask for "How Grandma Came for Christmas", "The Red-haired Doll", "Unlucky Jim", "Debbie's Jewels" and several others to be read and re-read. These are in some great books that I picked up years ago at a used book store for almost nothing. One set is called "Uncle Arthur's Storytime" and one book was published by Focus on the Family called "Great Stories Remembered". Tuesday we began reading "Jotham's Journey" by Arnold Ytreeide which can be used as an Advent reading (although we started it a little late this year). What do you read during Christmas?